2026/05/15 by Keneiloe P. Montsu, Catharina I. Boshoff, Eric Etter +1
paper · doi:10.4102/ojvr.v93i1.2235
crossref created 2026/05/14 · crossref deposited 2026/05/14 · crossref issued 2026/05/15 · crossref published 2026/05/15 · crossref published-online 2026/05/15 · crossref indexed 2026/07/30
African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in Gauteng province (2012, 2019–2022) occurred outside South Africa’s (SA’s) traditional control zones and highlighted biosecurity deficiencies among smallholder producers. This study aimed to assess biosecurity practices and knowledge gaps among smallholder pig farmers in Gauteng by comparing ASF-free areas with high-risk areas (HRA) that had or had not experienced ASF outbreaks. Between 2020 and 2021, structured interviews were conducted with 137 pig farmers across four municipalities: Ekurhuleni, Lesedi, Tshwane and West Rand. The questionnaire captured data on farm and household characteristics, herd size and ownership, animal health management, biosecurity practices, pig movement and trade, ASF awareness, and potential routes of virus introduction. Farmers in HRA should implement additional biosecurity measures. Key risk factors included the absence of quarantine facilities (p